6 Month Old Sleep Suggestions

Big sleep changes at the Six-month stage

Your baby’s sleep changes all the time because they’re changing all the time! So, I think it’s a sensible idea to check in on their sleep regularly. But around six months is an especially great time to do this because there’s some big changes happening at this stage!

6 sleep suggestions for 6-month-olds:

It’s normal for their wake up time to be slightly different every day. I see their wake up as a window rather than a set time because nothing is precise! But if their wake up time differs wildly, it might be worth waking them in the same window each day. This can really help their circadian rhythm and their day/naps!
Some (but definitely not all!) may start to lengthen their naps and sleep for longer. If this starts to happen their nap gap/time might need to be nudged out too. Especially if they start to fight their naps!
Even if they don’t lengthen their naps (normal!) their nap gaps or time might need a nudge later. As they get older they’re able to manage more awake time and won’t get as tired so quickly.
If their first nap lengthens so much that they’re resisting, refusing or taking a super short afternoon nap it might be worth capping the morning nap to 60/70 minutes.
Are they fighting or refusing their cat nap? Very normal at this age and all my tips for this are in my last post.
Don’t forget their bedtime might need a tweak too. If they’re still cat napping it might need nudging 15/20 minutes later. And If they’ve scrapped that nap it might need bringing 15/20 minutes earlier.